I stumbled across this post on another thread. Thought you would appreciate the input from another Type A:

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typeAchica Posted on: Today, 5:35:35pm Posts: 9

Crohn's/Colitis problems reduced already. It's only been 10 days. Using the bathroom a lot, but no problems involved usually. Lost a bit of weight. Not sure how much, but my husband noticed so it must be true.

Loving the BTD still! Hope everyone else is doing well also.

Knowledge is power. SWAMI gives you the diet that will unlock the key to better health, and it's all based on your unique individuality.

Good thread and incredible testimonials! I cannot begin to imagine the problems you guys are/were facing, and atleast with BTD things are getting better, no?

My issues were digestive problems with bowel movement happening once in 3 days, inflammation of joints, high cholesterol and fatigue. I'm a vegetarian, still am, or shall I say I used to be a granitarian and not anymore ? It did me in big time...but now I'm doing pretty well with egg as my source of animal protein. I continue to feel better day by day.

Now I'm not saying the diet caused the most recent problems. I'm wondering if it exasperated the situation though. Or at least my not following the diet 100%, which is honestly impossible. Am I going to have to follow the diet so closely that I can never stray, even a little? What can I do?

Sorry to read all suffering you have gone through. My best wishes on your recovery.

This is a subject I have thought of too frequently for my liking because I have not found much evidence on the matter. I started this diet searching for perfection. I had absolutely no health issues. On the contrary, I considered myself a very healthy individual. Far above average. No weight issues either. Perfect BMI. Gee, if I was already perfect why go for more? !

The following personal story is what makes me believe you were already at the brink of your illness but it was asymptomatic because you were healing. A week of constant pressure on the body just made you crumble.

For ten years I smoked 2 packs of Marlboro reds per day. I felt fine, no morning coughs, had plenty of energy, I even had a sensational lung capacity. One day I quit cold turkey. I did so because it was the “in” thing to do.

After a year of abstinence I could not resist a cigarette. I smocked it loving every single drag. Few times in my life have I felt worse. The nausea, the headache, oh my stomach! I just wanted to jump out of my body. This was just 1 cigarette for a person that a year back had been a healthy heavy smoker, who laughed at the wimps who had adverse reactions to cigarettes. Here I was having the worst reaction.

An hour or so later I had my second cigarette. Shortly after, my third. Within the day I was back to being a heavy smoker, not bad considering I had never felt worse on the first one. I continued smoking for ten more years. I was happy to observe that after that initial cigarette I did not have any apparent adverse reaction to smoking.

Somehow my body just got used to the tobacco. Why did the first cigarette made me feel so bad? Chances are it was because it was “poison to my body.” Because I was healthy my body soon adapted to the cigarette. Your body on the other hand could not ride the wave. Perhaps the second time I quit I left my body at the brink of some lung failure and if I start again, if I have not healed, I fall ill as well. My body is on this occasion not able to overcome the illness.

Dr. D mentions in some of his books that: “As we age, our immune defences weaken.”

Would you recommend anyone, with a lung illness, being 70-80% cigarette free so that next time they had one cigarette they did not feel terrible?

I know of some people on this board that prefer to remain less than 100% compliant so as not to experience the negative effects.

About the other testimonials posted in this thread...I would like to see what these people are saying now after being on it for a while. I was amazed at first myself. Cutting out certain things did help. But after cutting those things out, my problems didn't completely go away. I'd have some of the same symptoms show up every once in a while even though I didn't go off the diet, for the secretor side of things anyways. Really the only times I haven't had major problems were when I was forced onto the rice diet, and now just after the surgery. Some symptoms are starting to come back now, which is why I'm thinking about trying this again. But like I said, if the price of this diet means never being able to stray without requiring surgery afterwards then it's too much. I'd rather live with constant minor problems then survive through occasional major problems. I'd rather have my occasional steak then never having one at all. I'd rather have my milk then never touching it again, even if I have to spend more for the lactose-free stuff. There's something to be said for eating a healthy diet, and I'd say that this one makes the most sense out of all of them. But there's also something to be said about enjoying life and the luxuries that come with it.

Brent,These are decisions that you will make for yourself, as we all have done. I decided that I was sick and tired of suffering, and that no treats were worth what I was going through on a daily basis. I haven't eaten avoids in several years, and little by little, my health is beginning to really shine. Living totally pain-free is something I never even dreamed I could accomplish.

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.~Mary Jean Irion

About the other testimonials posted in this thread...I would like to see what these people are saying now after being on it for a while.

All except the last one, the testimonials I quoted were from the ResultBase. If you are looking for testimonials, start reading the many testimonials you can find right here in this forum where you posted.

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I was amazed at first myself. Cutting out certain things did help. But after cutting those things out, my problems didn't completely go away.

Like Lola mentions about Rome, some healing takes time.

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I'd have some of the same symptoms show up every once in a while even though I didn't go off the diet, for the secretor side of things anyways. Really the only times I haven't had major problems were when I was forced onto the rice diet, and now just after the surgery. Some symptoms are starting to come back now, which is why I'm thinking about trying this again. But like I said, if the price of this diet means never being able to stray without requiring surgery afterwards then it's too much. I'd rather live with constant minor problems then survive through occasional major problems. I'd rather have my occasional steak then never having one at all. I'd rather have my milk then never touching it again, even if I have to spend more for the lactose-free stuff. There's something to be said for eating a healthy diet, and I'd say that this one makes the most sense out of all of them. But there's also something to be said about enjoying life and the luxuries that come with it.

Again, I would seriously suggest getting your secretor status tested to find out if you are a non-secretor. As far as whether or not you continue to eat avoids for you type, we each make our own choice as to the level of compliance we feel is comfortable for us. Best of luck to you.

Knowledge is power. SWAMI gives you the diet that will unlock the key to better health, and it's all based on your unique individuality.

Although I'm an O, and coming at this from the other end of the food spectrum so to speak, I understand your reaction... I remember when I first read the O food list, I was outraged at someone apparently denying me most of the foods that brought pleasure to my life.

However, the fact is that after a while of being compliant, and I mean properly compliant, the cravings for Avoids simply disappear... Things that seemed irresistible but caused problems once past the throat just don't seem very appealing any more, and it's strange to say, but it seems to be linked with a general clarity of thought.

In your case, because you're suffering from an illness, your immune system probably needs extra help to revover... As others before me have said, you could consider supplements to help intestines rebuild flora, or a product like Chlorella, which would help with digestive problems as well as strengthening the immune system.

Also, since Crohn's is sometimes considered to be an autoimmune disease, the BTD seems particularly relevant to your case, as compliant foods will not tax your immune system like avoids would.

Hi Brentje,I can say I truly feel your pain, as I was diagnosed with Crohn's at 21 years old. I am now 34 and totally healed of that dreadful disease. The pain is unexplainable and the way you feel makes you not want to live. The first diet that got me on the path to healing was the Specific Carbohydrate Diet by Elaine Gottschall. I basically cut out fluid dairy, all refined sugars and all grains. It was a super strict diet, much more I think, than BTD, but it did help me soooooo much and was a good starting point. She did allow hard cheeses such as cheddar, and they didn't really bother me except that I still was constipated a lot.

Anyway, I haven't take meds in many years for Crohn's and I know that I am healed. The BTD was the first diet that has totally made since regarding my past. I knew I was a non-secretor before I even took the test. Usually, nonnies are MUCH more sensitive to everything, I am finding out. Anyway, I cannot recommend that you follow this diet enough, especially to ensure a quality of life for yourself. I believe the Lord led me to this diet and to this healing, and I cannot be grateful enough.

Dairy causes me to have joint pain similar to arthritis-type pain and makes me brain-foggy, like I cannot think straight. Until I got off of all dairy, I did not realize how messed up my mind and body really was. Wheat as well, that is a HUGE no-no, causing lots of pain for me. So, from someone who knows this pain and disease, I implore you to think seriously about this diet for yourself. No medications will cure this disease, and it can kill you, as I know at least 2 people who have died from it already.